Cross country: CU Buffs' Jake Hurysz ready to take on nationals

Junior feels prepared after last season's race

Jake Hurysz got to the starting line at the 2011 NCAA cross country national championships in Terre Haute, Indiana, and wondered what he was doing there.

"I was like, 'What's the point of me being here? I'm not going to be All-American, I don't have a team here,' " said Hurysz, now a junior on the Colorado cross country team. "It's another week where I could have gotten better toward track season."

A year later, Hurysz has a much different perspective on the nationals and a greater appreciation for his trip to Terre Haute.

"Nationals last year helped me prepare myself for this race, even though the course is different," said Hurysz, who will lead the Buffs into nationals on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. "I think over the past year I've grown to be able to take these big races and be able to relax more and have fun with it and not necessarily get freaked out before every national race."

Quite a bit has changed for Hurysz since last year.

A native of Chapel Hill, N.C., Hurysz was a sophomore at the University of North Carolina last year, becoming the first Tar Heel to qualify for nationals since 1997.

It wasn't long after last season that Hurysz made the decision that North Carolina wasn't right for him. He talked with a few schools and chose Colorado.

"He arrived here last January and was immediately a great fit for the culture of our team, respected and well liked within two weeks of being here," CU head coach Mark Wetmore said.

Right away, Hurysz proved himself as an elite runner who could make a difference for CU.

Advertisement

"He's been our little beacon of light," senior Aric Van Halen said. "He's been heading all the workouts, he's been fit since the summer and he's really stepped up."

While the Buffs were impressed with Hurysz, he was immediately drawn to his new teammates.

"Everyone here likes to work hard, and so do I," said Hurysz, who was 62nd at nationals last year. "Everyone here supports everybody and works hard. That's why I feel like it was a really good fit."

Although Hurysz leads the way, the Buffs are strong throughout the roster. That's why they go into Saturday's national championships with a legitimate shot at a championship. The Buffs are ranked No. 7, but were No. 2 before slipping at regionals last week.

"I think we're just going to keep doing what we've been doing all year," Hurysz said.

On a personal level, Hurysz feels a whole lot better going into nationals this time around.

"I have more confidence than I did last year," he said. "I know where I can finish, I know where I want to finish. That's a lot better than what I thought going into nationals last year."

Wetmore knows what Hurysz can do, too, but said his new standout runner has more to give.

"We haven't seen his perfect race yet," Wetmore said. "I think his confidence is catching up to his fitness. I'm ready when he is and I wouldn't mind if it was this Saturday.

"If not this cross country season, this coming track season he will be a very formidable runner."

Hurysz is hoping for his best in Louisville, but ultimately hopes for CU's best as a team.

"The main goal is obviously to run really well as a team and individual goals will take care of themselves," he said.

New coordinator pushes Buffs to work, play at level he expectsJim Leavitt has discovered this much about his new defense at Colorado: He has some talent with which to work, but his players need to put it in another gear. Full Story